The A.M.Y. Project (Artists Mentoring Youth) is turning 5! This amazing program gathers top female artists to mentor young Toronto women in the arts, encouraging them to use theatre and art as methods of self-expression. The project has been in full swing since 2005 and is co-directed by Claire Calnan and Weyni Mengesha, both award-winning theatre artists in their own right. This weekend, see the diverse youth ensemble of A.M.Y. mentees perform in Step Right Up, a circus show about human oddities. The show takes place at Theatre Passe Muraille on Friday, April 30 at 8 p.m. and on Saturday, May 1 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. A gala celebration celebrating A.M.Y.’s fifth birthday will follow Saturday’s 8 p.m. show, complete with performances, a CD release and a silent auction. Prices are excellent, too: Friday’s performance is PWYC, Saturday’s matinee is only $15, and it’s $30 for the Saturday night show and party, or just $10 for the party only. Tickets are available at artsboxoffice.ca or by telephone at 416-504-7529. Read on for more details, and please come out and support Toronto’s mentors and youth!
STEP RIGHT UP
The AMY Project is celebrating FIVE YEARS of youth mentorship. The A.M.Y. Project is Artists Mentoring Youth, an arts initiative formed to affect a culture of diverse, young women in our city by increasing their cultural vocabulary and engaging them in activities of healthy, creative self-expression.
The FIFTH ANNIVERSARY celebration will be marked with the production of our annual show, a Gala Birthday Party and the release of a compilation CD.
This year’s youth ensemble presents Step Right Up, a circus show that invites you to take a closer look at the human ‘oddities’ that make us gawk, laugh and cringe. These promising, emerging performers step up into the spotlight and, with great feats of courage, challenge you to look beyond society’s game of smoke and mirrors and see the complex truth that lies beneath.
The project is co-directed by Claire Calnan (voted top Theatre Artist of 2009 by NOW Magazine) and Weyni Mengesha (award-winning director of Raisin in the Sun and da kink in my hair) and has assembled an extraordinary group of mentors this year including Tara Beagan (Thy Neighbour’s Wife, Miss Julie: Sheh’mah), Jemeni (poet, artist, radio host), Anita Majumdar (The Misfit, Fish Eyes), Hannah Moscovitch (East of Berlin, The Russian Play), and Liisa Repo-Martell (Eternal Hydra, Top Girls)
Following the final show on Saturday evening we will celebrate FIVE YEARS of youth engagement through the arts with a Gala Birthday Party. Featuring performances from AMY grads (Aquilla Roots, Domanique Grant) and past mentors (songstress Ania Soul and breakdancer Nylda Gallardo), a fabulous silent auction, the release of our first CD- A.M.Y Project Mix Tape. Vol.1., and the exceptional Deejay L’Oqenz spinning tunes until late in the night– It promises to be an extraordinary event. Perhaps, even, the Greatest Show on Earth!
Project Co-Directors: CLAIRE CALNAN, WEYNI MENGESHA
Assistant Director & Stage Manager: SHAMELIA JOSEPH
Lighting Designer: SUSIE JAROSZEWSKA Production Intern: CASSY WALKER
Artist Mentors: TARA BEAGAN, RAVEN DAUDA, JEMENI, ROSA LABORDE, ANITA MAJUMDAR, CAROLINE MANGOSING, HANNA MOSCOVITCH, MOTION, AFRAKAREN NILES, KIMBERLY PURTELL, LIISA REPO-MARTELL, and ANIA SOUL
And Featuring the A.M.Y. Project Youth Ensemble: COPPER, ANDREA CARTER, ALIA ETTIENNE, KEIAN JOHNSON, JACQUERIE LAZARO, YODIT TECLEMARIAM, KATE WELSH, AMBER WILLIAMS-KING, ABHI YOGASERGARAN, with MICHELLE GREEN and SHANAISE WILLIAMS
THEATRE PASSE MURAILLE, 16 Ryerson Avenue
Showtimes: Friday, April 30th @ 8pm, Saturday May 1st @ 2pm & 8pm
GALA PERFORMANCE & 5TH ANNIVERSARY FUNDRAISER:
Saturday, May 1st @ 8pm
FOR TICKETS CALL THE ARTS BOX OFFICE at 416-504-7529
OR VISIT artsboxoffice.ca on the web
Friday PREVIEW TICKETS: PWYC, Saturday matinee: $15
Gala Tickets: $30 show & party, $10 party only
This program is generously supported by Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council, and Theatre Ontario